Combined pliers and chain tightener



Nov. 13, 1923. $1,473,851

. Y J. L. HALL I COMBINED PLIERS AND CHAIN TIGHTENER Filed May 17. 1922 a 19 1 1a L 7 I l Nov. 113, i923.

"l Um T?! Joni-t L. HALL, or earns, Iowa.

COMBINED PLIERS AND CHAIN TIGHTENER.

Application filed May 17, 1822.

To all whom it M ay concern:

Be it known that I, J'I-IN L. ILXLL, a citizen of he United States, and a resident of rlmes, in the county out Story and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Combined Pliers and Chain Tightener, oi which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a tool or" simple, durable and inexpensive construction in the nature or a combined tool which may be used as ordinary pliers or as a tightener for anti-skid chains such as used on automobile wheels.

A further object is to provide in such a device means whereby the pivoted members of the ordinary pliers may be utilized for the purpose of forming a chain tightener, by simply making slight alterations in the said pivoted members, the said device being so arranged that when the pliers are attached to the corresponding ends of the chain and the handle portions are separated, the chain will be drawn taut, and in connection therewith provide means for locking the handle in an operative position so that after the tension has been drawn on the chain, the device may be locked and permit the operator to have free movement of his hands for the purpose of hooking the free ends together.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects eon- V templated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of'my'improved tool.

Figure 2 is a top view of the same showinga portion of one or the handles in section.

Figure 3 is a side elevationwith the tool moved to an operative position showing the manner in which the ends ofthe chains are drawn together.

My improved device comprises substantially a pair of pliers similar to those in commercial use, said pliers being provided with two pivoted members and 11. The member 11 is provided with a jaw member 12, and the member 10 with a jaw member 13.

The opposite end of the member 11 from.

Serial No. 56158 the'jaw 12 is provided with an outwardly extending chain engaging hook 14, while the inner face of the member 11 adjacent to the pivoted point of the two members is provided with a series of ratchet teeth 15, the member 10 being pivoted to the member 11 by means of the usual pivot 16.

Pivotally mounted to the inner face and central portion of the member 10, I have provided a dog 17 which is in substantially the same plane as the member 11, and so ar ranged that the free end of said dog will engage the teeth 15 when the handles have been separated a predetermined amount, the dog 17 being designed to be rotated adjacent to the inner face of the handle of the member 10 so when not in use it will not interfere with the operation 01": the device as a pair of pliers.

For retaining the dog 17 in the holding position, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1, I have provided a spring 18 riveted to the inner face of the handle of the member 10, the said spring being provided with a lug 19 which is designed to frictionally engage a socket or depression 20 in the dog 17. The member 10 is provided with a slot 21 in which the free end of the spring 18 may enter when the lug 19 leaves the depression 20, thereby providing means for yieldingly holding the dog adjacent to the inner face of the handle of the member 10.

The free end of the j aw member 13 is provided with a laterally extending lug 2:2 so shaped and arranged as to form a hook to enter the links of a tire chain.

The operation oil my device is as follows:

When it is desired to use the device as a chain tightener, the pliers are moved to the closed position shown in Figure 1, after which the hook 14: is placed in one of the links of the chain near one end, while the lug 2-2 is placed in one 01 the links near the opposite end of the chain, after which the handle of the member 10 is moved outwardly from the handle of the member 11, which will cause the ends of the chains to be drawn toward each other.

When the desired amount of movement has been imparted to the movable handle, the dog 17 is moved in engagement with the teeth 15, after which the operator is free to fasten the adjacent ends of the chain together by the usual fastening devices.

It will, therefore, be seen that I have provided a combined tool Which may be either used for a pair of pliers or as a chain tightener with very little additional expense to What would be necessary in order to produce a pair of pliers, thereby providing a tool for two purposes at practically the cost of one, and which Will occupy a space in the tool kit of one tool.

I claim as my invention: I

1. A tool comprising a pair of members pivoted intermediate their ends, one set of corresponding ends being provided With plier jaW members and the opposite corresponding ends being "formed into handle members, the free end of one of the jaw members of one of said pivoted members being provided With a hook, and the free end of the handle of the opposite-pivoted memher being provided with a hook, said hook members being mounted to extend slightly toward each other, for the purpose stated.

2. A tool comprisin a pair of members pivoted intermediate 1; eir ends, one set of corresponding ends being provided With plier jaw members and the opposite corresponding ends being formed into handle members, the free end of one of the jaw members of one of said pivoted members being provided with a hook and the free end of the handle of the opposite pivoted memher being provided with a hook, the said handle members beingcapable of being separated from each other to cause the hook members to approach each other, and means for adjustably locking the handles in their separated positions.

Des Moines, Iowa, May 10, 1922.

v JOHN L. HALL. 

